Which Spanish phrases matter most here?

“Perdona, ¿te puedo pedir un favor?” (Sorry, could I ask you a favour); “¿Tienes un minuto?” (Have you got a minute); “¿Me puedes recoger un paquete mañana?” (Could you take in a parcel for me tomorrow). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Spain. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Spanish phrases for asking a neighbour to take in a parcel in Spain

Ask your neighbour: “Perdona, ¿te puedo pedir un favor?”, then “¿Me puedes recoger un paquete mañana?” and explain “Voy a estar fuera todo el día”. Afterwards you may hear “El repartidor me ha dejado tu paquete” and “Pasa a recogerlo cuando quieras”.

Try it · about two minutes

You’ll be out when a delivery is due, so you ask the neighbour across the landing to take it in.

Sound on: the neighbour speaks Spanish. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

Neighbour
Hola, ¿qué tal?
Hi, how’s it going?
You
Perdona, ¿te puedo pedir un favor?
Sorry, could I ask you a favour?
Neighbour
Claro, dime.
Of course, go ahead.
You
¿Me puedes recoger un paquete mañana?
Could you take in a parcel for me tomorrow?
Neighbour
Te dejo una nota en el buzón por si no estás.
I’ll leave a note in your letterbox in case you’re out.
You
Perfecto, así lo sé.
Perfect, then I’ll know.
Neighbour
El repartidor me ha dejado tu paquete.
The delivery driver left your parcel with me.
You
¡Qué bien! Muchas gracias.
Brilliant, thank you very much.
Neighbour
Pasa a recogerlo cuando quieras.
Come and pick it up whenever you like.
You
Gracias, voy ahora mismo.
Thanks, I’ll come right now.
Neighbour
No te preocupes, para eso están los vecinos.
Don’t worry, that’s what neighbours are for.
You
Ya te devolveré el favor.
I’ll return the favour.

Which Spanish phrases do you need?

Perdona, ¿te puedo pedir un favor?
Sorry, could I ask you a favour?
¿Tienes un minuto?
Have you got a minute?
¿Me puedes recoger un paquete mañana?
Could you take in a parcel for me tomorrow?
Voy a estar fuera todo el día.
I’m going to be out all day.
Te dejo una nota en el buzón por si no estás.
I’ll leave a note in your letterbox in case you’re out.
El repartidor me ha dejado tu paquete.
The delivery driver left your parcel with me.
Pasa a recogerlo cuando quieras.
Come and pick it up whenever you like.
¿Tienes un paquete para mí?
Do you have a parcel for me?
Tienes un paquete en portería.
There’s a parcel for you at the doorman’s desk.
No te preocupes, para eso están los vecinos.
Don’t worry, that’s what neighbours are for.

What is worth knowing in Spain?

Asking before the delivery

1
Knock and ask for a favour.
Sorry, could I ask you a favour?
2
Say when the parcel is due, and that you’ll be out.
I’m going to be out all day.
3
Afterwards, go over and collect it.
Do you have a parcel for me?

Tell the courier too

Some couriers will leave a parcel with a neighbour if you ask. Check with your neighbour first, then tell the courier which door.

Si no estoy, déjeselo al vecino del segundo.

If I’m not in, leave it with the neighbour on the second floor.

A doorman’s desk

In some buildings a doorman, el portero, takes in deliveries at the portería. Ask when the desk closes so you can collect in time.

¿A qué hora cierra la portería?

What time does the doorman’s desk close?

Questions about this situation

Which Spanish phrases matter most here?: “Perdona, ¿te puedo pedir un favor?” (Sorry, could I ask you a favour); “¿Tienes un minuto?” (Have you got a minute); “¿Me puedes recoger un paquete mañana?” (Could you take in a parcel for me tomorrow). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Spain. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in Spanish

All situations in Spanish

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.